I am a faithful lurker and amateur Twaiiniac. My two cents worth: It seems that in principal Twain hated the one doing the oppressing. My favorite example is after the boxer rebellion in China, the various churches required financial renumeration (and some a life for a life) for each Christian killed. and Twain railed publicly against the church. In this instance it was the Chinese. He also had lots to say in Circling The Equator about the oppression of the brown people by western whites.I see a bit of empathetic whining in his choice of who he chose to defend at the moment depending on the daily news. His self righteousness had a part in his choices. He was a man who was angry with God in the end. He seemed to take the side of the oppressed andlay blame on the oppressors as well as God who made man in this fashion. But I also believe that he could make friends with people of all kinds an parsuasions as well and truly enjoy the fellowship. I remember a photograph of George Washington carver that bears this out. Sue Griffin who is glad of all the posting going on